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    Amphibians

 

 

Tadpoles at a pond about 8 miles from my house. Species unknown, but if I had to take a shot in the dark I'd guess some sort of toad (too dry around these parts for most frogs).

 

    Reptiles

 

Various fence lizards around my house (genus Sceloporus), that my wife and I affectionately call fat & sassies. They're pretty cute but the hatchlings are even cuter. These guys seem to be quite variable (possibly with age and sex as well as species) so if there are any herpetologists out there that can give me more specific identifications please let me know.

 

 

No, he's not dead, I would never hurt one of these little guys. He's just playing possum because he's sure I'm about to eat him. This one is most definitely a male and likely a Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis).

 

 

Look at that color!

 

By way of contrast compare the lighter blue color of what is probably a less mature male. On the other hand note the vivid orange/yellow of the back of the legs which is characteristic of S. occidentalis.

 

 

 

Terminally cute baby lizard (this little guy is only about 1 1/2 inches long total).

 

 

 

The mighty hunter! This guy is also only about 1 1/2 inches.

 

 

Ah, my old childhood nemesis the Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata). I used to catch these guys all the time when I was a kid. They don't play well with others. They drop their tails if you even look at them wrong, they're capable of delivering a respectable bite (had one draw blood on me once), and to add insult to injury while biting they have the nasty habit of swinging their tail ends around and smearing feces on you. Not nearly as cute as fence lizards.

   

    Birds

 

 

 

Some American Coots (Fulica americana) in the same pond as the tadpoles above.

 

 

 

A hummer, probably female.

 

 

A male.

 

 

In flight.

 

 

A threefer. They're usually not this sociable. They fight constantly over access to the feeders.

 

 

 

Some type of hawk (possibly a Cooper's) feeding on the remains of a smaller bird.

 

 

Duck (unknown species)

 

 

A Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos),  a male in this case.

 

 

 

    Mammals

 

 

 

Demon squirrel!

 

 

Wabbit.

 

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